Image Source: The New York Public Library Digital Collections

The Wild Princess, otherwise known as Young Medea, was a Yiddish take on the ancient Greek tragedy Medea, originally written by Euripides. The play was performed in four acts and attracted Yiddish speaking audiences from across New York to see this Jewish twist on a famous play. The performances took place on June 10th and 11th, though the specific year of the performance is still unknown. It can be assumed that this poster was in circulation sometime between 1900 and 1919.

Euripides’ original version of the play was based on the Greek myth of Jason and Medea and told the tragic story of a woman betrayed by her husband and set off on a murderous rampage. While performances of Greek plays were relatively common in the secular world in the 1900s, modern Jews tended to avoid these plays. The themes of polytheism and idolatry were aversive to Jewish audiences and, as such, these ancient shows held little appeal.

Jacob Gordin, a well-known playwright and advocate for Yiddish theater, adapted the story of Medea for Jewish and Yiddish-speaking audiences. While much of the original story remained the same, some themes, characters, and settings were adjusted to better suit these modern Jewish audiences. This was a common practice of Jacob Gordin’s, often taking ancient plays that had been avoided by the Jewish people and adjusting them to allow these audiences to enjoy the classics with fresh eyes.

Madame K. Liptzin, pictured above, was the star of this performance. Playing the titular role of Medea, Liptzin was joined by a cast of other Jewish and Yiddish-speaking actors to create a truly immersive and accessible theatrical experience. Madame K. Liptzin went on to star in additional plays written or adapted by Jacob Gordin, two of which are also advertised on this poster. The first play that the advertisement previews, shown on the bottom-right of the poster, is The Yiddish King Lear, a Yiddish retelling of the Shakespearean tragedy King Lear. Next, on the bottom-left of the poster, there is a preview for a performance of “Madlayn,” or “The Bad Shepherds,” based on a play by Octave Mirbeau. Each of these advertisements demonstrates the complex and exciting world of Yiddish theater in early 1900s New York.

Translation:

Friday, 10.  and Saturday Evening, 11. June

The Wild Princess

Or, Young Medea

A Historical Drama in 4 Acts

by Jacob Gordin

Cast:

Mr. Moshkovitch………..Aeetes, King of Colchis

Madame Thomashefsky………..Absyrtus, His Child

Madame Manne………..Gara, Medea’s Nurse

Madame Wilensky………..Akhheza, Medea’s Friend

Mr. Thomashefsky………..Jason, A Greek Hero

Mr. Tornberg………..Mila, His Friend

Mr. Meisel………..One Person From The Arganavtan

Medea’s young lady, priest, chief, Greek, citizen of Colchis, war-leader.

“Medea” played by Madame K. Liptzin

Plot-setting — Colchis

In preparation…

The Yiddish King Lear

By Jacob Gordin

Specially written for

Madame K. Liptzin

In preparation…

“Madlayn”

Or

“The Bad Shepherds”

by Mirbeau

Adapted by Jacob Gordin for

Madame K. Liptzin.

 

Y. Lipshitts, Crisis Printer, 180 Grand Street, New York

 

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